Deltona Debate: Hire Fired Folks 1st?

DELTONA — Displaced county workers would get the first shot at jobs in Deltona's new growth management department, if a city commissioner gets her way next week.

Commissioner Lucille Wheatley wants city administrators to give top consideration to the county's fired employees because it's ''the right thing to do.'' She plans to ask for other commissioners' support at their meeting Monday night.

Volusia County officials announced budget cuts this week that are expected to leave eight people out of work. The staff reduction was prompted by Deltona's decision to hire its own growth management staff and no longer pay the county more than $840,000 a year for that service.

''I think we should look at those employees first before interviewing others,'' Wheatley said. ''It would be a shame if we don't give them a chance.''

Wheatley's proposal got mixed responses from other commissioners.

Commissioner Jose Perez said he wouldn't want to give the county's former workers preferential treatment because that could violate the law. Nonetheless, he encouraged City Manager Harold Emrich to consider the displaced employees for jobs.

''I would like to see those people that might be affected apply as quickly as possible,'' he said. ''I'm sure that some of the employees that may be affected have the necessary skills.''

Commissioner Don Foss said elected officials have no right to dictate who gets hired in Deltona. The city's charter gives that responsibility to Emrich.

In principle, Deltona doesn't have any reason to give the county's former workers special treatment, Foss said.

''You hire the best person for the job wherever they come from,'' he said. ''They shouldn't go to the head of the line.''

In other business:

The commission is expected to introduce an ordinance regulating communication towers in the city.

The proposed rules would prohibit lattice towers and towers higher than 200 feet.

The ordinance, which would encourage companies to place antennas on one another's towers, restricts the structures to certain areas of Deltona.

For example, towers under 70 feet in height would be permitted along a portion of Providence Boulevard. And towers up to 120 feet tall would be allowed in parts of the industrial zone near Interstate 4.

The commission is inviting residents to participate in a 5:30 p.m. work session at Deltona Regional Library about the city's proposed comprehensive land use plan.

The meeting will give residents an opportunity to share ideas about how they'd like Deltona to look.